Prince Charles has told the European Parliament that the ‘fight’ agains global climate change is a ‘war’ and that the ‘Doomsday Clock’ is ‘ticking ever closer to midnight’. This is, of course, complete b*ll*cks.
There are echoes here of the over emotive language used by the USA following the 11/9/01 terrorist attacks on their country. A dedicated band of terrorists wrought one of the worst attacks ever on a western country and the foolish response was to declare a 'war', which our delightful Prime Minister went along with slavishly. This 'war' immediately legitimised the misguided beliefs of the terrorists and their campaign to drag everyone back to the middle ages. And what a victory the war has been ever since!
The use of such language seems to be missing a trick, as any politician with a few years under their belts should know, not to mention being ever so slightly dismissive of the numerous wars which are going on around the world, killing, maiming and generally causing misery to millions every year. So why are we still resorting to such ludicrous exaggeration?
The best way to stop war is to get people making money, owning their land, putting their kids through school. Then they’ll be too busy to bother about the ‘big-enders’ next door as they’ll be far more interested in selling them their produce to buy other things back.
The best way to address global warming is surely to sell the benefits to people, not to try to frighten them and to get all emotive. You don’t have to live in a tree with dreadlocks to be green, you just have to be sensible and that’s where we seem to be going off the edge of the cliff on this one.
Simple, easy truths would be far better:
• energy conservation saves us money;
• depleting the rainforests will make life more expensive for us so it is a good, self-interested investment to stop them being depleted;
• using less petrol in our cars, buses and lorries is getting costlier by the day so reducing this use os good for us all;
• recycling stops us filling up our countryside with waste. Thanks London for the daily trainloads to Oxfordshire…
• seasonal local produce is ‘interesting’ and is inordinately better than pre-packaged crap from a Dutch factory.
The emphasis on greener living is not a ‘war’, it is common sense, something the good prince has seemed to lack many times during his career in the royal ante-chamber. I wish we could cut out the ‘sackcloth and ashes’ approach to green living and focus on the good bits, like the potential to live more healthily while still being able to enjoy a take-away pizza every now and them without having to flagellate onself for the misery inflicted on toads in the upper Volta.
One final thought which always amuses me is to ponder how many people go on the green demonstrations around the world and then drive home, walk in the door, turn on the light, put the kettle on and sit down to Emmerdale, or the equivalent - which I take as demonstrating that, the loons aside, we’re all the same fundamentally and that a little positive action from everyone could work wonders without us all having to forego being, er, happy...
Thursday, 14 February 2008
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2 comments:
A good post, I agree with most of it.
I'd take issue with your last point - that is purely a value judgment and it is purely subjective. Some people may prefer the 'pre-packaged crap'.
Others may find that it offers better value to them.
Recycling is also not cut and dry. I see nothing wrong with landfill if there is no seepage to the surrounding land, especially if methane is used to produce energy (a nice cheap source of renewable energy there).
Some things make economic sense to recycle though - metal being the main one, paper being a possibility.
Organic waste being composted is also a great recycling method if the time taken is worth it to the individual.
I think if we want to encourage recycling - lets pay people for the time they spend sorting their rubbish!
The problem I'd have with landfill is if the government compulsory purchase land to use as landfill or if one is built and it affects people nearby.
You always have very interesting views and this comment is no exception!
The problem I have with landfill is that it is completely unnecessary. What we can't recycle we can burn for energy but the amount of waste we can't recycle is tiny.
As for paying people to sort their recycling, I couldn't claim this since the time I spend doing it is so small! I take the rubbish outside and put it in a box, whereas before I, er, took my rubbish outside and put it in a bin...That's the point: it's easy for me to do and it benefits us all.
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